I'm sitting at Gate A4 in Columbus, Ohio waiting for a flight to sunny California where I'll spend at least the next 3 months. I've said good bye once again to family and friends. I've said good bye to comfort and privacy as I left my bed this morning and once again I've said good-bye to all things familiar. There's a stagnant light outside today and a dusting of snow to complement the 28 degrees. I haven't seen the sun in 9 days and old man winter is one thing that's not hard to say good-bye to.
I'd like to say I'm excited for this journey that lies ahead, but that's not really true. I'm confident in it, but rather neutral and almost numb towards any emotions for it. Traveling just seems to be natural to me now, it's my life and I'm used to it. My hope is that no one would ever romanticize my life or be in awe of me, for although my life is radically different than most, it is just my life and I am no more interesting than anyone else. I truly believe in equality and while sometimes it may seem that others are more talented or blessed, I believe within we are equally blessed and that we all have equal potential for greatness. So although I am different and my path is my own, I am just doing what I was created to do and I will gladly share what I learn and see, but I don't want others to make the mistake of being in awe of me. For it is only God's beauty that I see and His greatness that makes me. Without Him I wouldn't see the beauty my eyes see and learn the lessons my travels have given to me.
-Flying over the Rocky Mountains-
Thoughts captivate my attention that are beyond the scope of words. The vastness of the open land amazes me and I am reminded of how limited my human perspective is, for I most often see only where the road takes me and my feet carry me. I reflect on how I feel as I stand on the summit of a mountain. When I’m standing there I believe I can see for miles and it seems as if I can better understand my place in this world as I look down upon it. I’m reminded of my smallness, yet of how it’s all the little things that make up the big. Now as I’m flying high I imagine what the birds see and although the things they see are now before me I feel restrained by this glass window and seat belt. I realize how much I belong here as I look down at our land and long to embrace it, for although my imagination is satisfied by the views outside, my soul is aching to dance in the sunlight.
The colors of the earth today are calming and healing to me. The weathered mountains are brown, but blue shadows cast over their edges and are softened with dustings of snow and light along with deep blues that dance together in all their beautiful hues in the horizon beyond, yet beside me.
The harmony of the mountain peaks and their accompanying valleys below create unity inside me as their unison is met in their diversity. They tell me that despite our differences both within ourselves and with one another, we can peacefully live alongside one another-together.
